It is opaque and dark gray to black, with a metallic luster.

The term chalcocite from the Greek khalkos, meaning "copper".

However, most chalcocite occurs in the supergene enriched environment below the oxidation zone of copper deposits as a result of the leaching of copper from the oxidized minerals.

It has been mined for centuries and is one of the most profitable copper ores.

Chalcocite has been known to form pseudomorphs of the minerals bornite, covellite, chalcopyrite, pyrite, enargite, millerite, galena and sphalerite.